Call on Advanced Computing Projects: Artificial Intelligence in Cloud (2nd edition)

The consolidation and strengthening of the National Scientific and Technological System (SCTN) are priorities of science and technology policy. These priorities aim to contribute to the national and international competitiveness of science and technology, promote innovation and knowledge transfer, as well as contribute to the achievement of global aspirations set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, FCT seeks to promote the strengthening of skills of scientific and technological institutions through their participation in advanced computing projects.

The FCT has the task of managing advanced computational means available online and promoting their accessibility to the different entities of the Educational System and the National Scientific and Technological System, regardless of their public or private nature.

• R&D (Research and Development) institutions;
• Collaborative laboratories;
• Technological interface centers;
• Science and technology infrastructures;
• Science and technology networks and consortia;
• Private non-profit institutions whose main objective is R&D activities;
• Digital Innovation Poles;
• Other public and private non-profit institutions that develop or participate in research, development, or innovation activities;
• Companies developing advanced computing projects in research, development or innovation activities;
• Individuals operating in Portugal and who wish to develop advanced computing projects in any scientific area.

Regarding applications from companies as beneficiaries, the advanced computing projects should:

• occur within the scope of pre-competitive research and innovation, without market value;
• not exceed 50% of the total computational allocation to be allocated in this competition.

Applications of the Fixed Access type must be submitted, in English, on a separate form at:

https://rnca.fccn.pt/candidaturas-iac-acesso-fixo/

Applications of the Variable Access type must be submitted, in the English language, on a separate form at:

https://rnca.fccn.pt/candidaturas-iac-acesso-variavel/

• T1: Technical suitability to the resources requested
• T2: Computational resources planning and reasonableness and Work Plan
• T3: Technological or scientific relevance of the advanced computing project

Credits on the Google Cloud Platform.

The present call for proposals aims to support research and development projects using the Google Cloud Platform offer in artificial intelligence and data analysis algorithms, according to the following maximum quotas:

• A minimum of 80% of the resources are reserved for the areas of Natural Language Understanding and Ethical Artificial Intelligence.​​​​​​​
• A minimum of 20% of the resources are reserved for the remaining scientific areas using the Google Cloud Platform offer in artificial intelligence and data analysis algorithms, or more if there are not enough applications to fill the quota mentioned in the previous point.

Should the resources requested in the aforementioned areas not exhaust the computational resources available in the call, the remaining part may be allocated to applications in any other areas.

• Fixed Access – GCP credits of USD 25.000, with a maximum duration of 365 days.
• Variable Access - GCP credits up to USD 150.000, with a maximum duration of 365 days.

Information about applications can be requested through the email address: rnca@fccn.pt 

No information published on this page replaces or supersedes the Regulation and the Call Notice.